Theater

It's all about the story. Theater is the story of life, with all its various facets. What's wonderful about the stories told on stage is that they generate many more stories — on and off stage as well.

Before you know it, books about back stage incidents and/or the history of such and such productions are as plentiful. Recently, Edie Richardson, a lifelong resident of Watertown, contacted me about her personal experience with the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. She and her husband attended an early performance of the show at a school in Leicester, England, where the actor who played Joseph was Maynard Williams.

She and her husband Bob were visiting friend Bob Wilson in Rothley just outside of Leicester. Robert Mendell, the musical director of "Joseph," rented a recording studio from Wilson, who owned the building, she said. Robert Mendell produced the recording and put his own picture on the album cover instead of the lead singer. What a hoot! Best of all, Edie and Bob Richardson got to see Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. "Boy were they short," laughed Edie, who added that she felt lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

The Watertown couple like to step out to the theater and enjoy box seats at the Palace. "Going to the Palace in Waterbury is like going to New York for us," said Edie. She promptly shared her story of dressing to the nines for a production at the Palace and being shocked at finding someone in jeans and a sweatshirt sharing her box. We spoke about changing times and how the really important thing is that people come to the theater regardless of how they dress.

Edie also shared that she is a diehard Anglophile. Her mother was born in England, so Edie has always been fascinated with all things English. She spoke of kings and queens and the play "The Lion in Winter," which is about King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and succession to the throne.

So well does she know English history that when she took her mother back to England for a visit, she walked through Westminster Abbey, detailing all the historic events. I say that because she soon discovered that she had a following listening intently to her descriptions of the historic events that took place in England. "I'm not a docent," she told the followers, "but you're welcome to listen if you like."

What she is really excited about now is that the bones of King Richard III were found under a parking lot in Leicester amid the buried ruins of an abbey. "The DNA has proved that it's him," she said referring to the recent news. "A friend told me that they were able from that DNA from the skull to determine what his face must have looked like and that he must have been a very handsome king." And so from the story about a theater production, many more stories were shared.

Palace deals

By now, most of us are suffering from cabin fever including the kids. Therefore, make sure you take advantage of the special offer that the Palace Theater in Waterbury is offering.

The theater is presenting "Peter Pan" starring Cathy Rigby as a "Blizzard Blowout," with 50 percent off remaining seats." This excludes previous purchases and applicable fees and cannot be combined with other discounts.

I've seen Cathy do this show and she is wonderful. Talk about acrobatics. She is still flying high. The show itself is one that kids will remember for the rest of their lives. The production runs on Friday through Sunday's 1 p.m. performance.

If you have inside, off stage information regarding any Connecticut theater or local luminaries, please send it with a contact name and phone number to Off Stage at: jgrochman @gmail.com . Due to space needs, timeliness and other considerations, not all submissions can be addressed in Off Stage.

Follow Us

Post a reader comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog. Please be civil and respectful.If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican. Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.